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Saturday, October 28, 2017

RMR MD-2: Boulder v Park City

Boulder Rugby v
Park City Haggis

Francis-to-Francis lineout connection

Bit of wind on a chill
fall day at PleasantView as Boulder Rugby and Park City Haggis RFC would see
who’d claim the second spot on RMR’s MD-2 table after 80’ on the RugbyDay.
Haggis were doing the double as that steadfast crew often did, playing Boulder on
Saturday and then rolling down 36 for a Sunday fixture before transiting the
Divide and back home to their ski and snowboarding paradise in the hills above
Salt Lake City. Boulder were looking to shift from fourth on the table and into
the runner-up spot as well; the pitch-perfect-pitch at PleasantView was all hot
and bothered even before the first boot.

The Park City XV, depleted due a Utah Warriors RFC trial,
were nonetheless capable of fierce intent at breakdown, forcing turnover early
and flowing into the Boulder half with a terrible beauty as outside center
Joshua Carson fended his way to space at the 10 meter line from a won lineout and
outraced the chase to goal for a grounding that put the visitors up by a
handful after four short, though explosive, minutes of action.

Haggis were enjoying the majority of possession and hence
points when blindside flanker, Brad Kappos, plowed across from breakdown three meters out;
with inside center Fereti Lepolo converting to goal it was 12-nil for travelers
in the 23rd minute.

Park City were back for more just prior the half as 8man, Tucker Francis, scooped ball
from the rear of a five-meter wonscrum and scooted over the paint to touch down
for a 17-0 Haggis lead by the time field magistrate Chris Brewer sounded the
midpoint whistle. Boulder offense consisted of strategic kicks that were
well-gathered and -countered by the hungry Haggis backthree backs, while their
guests appeared better at both sets and in the loose.

Haggis got three from the tee on a penalty goal by Lepolo just after re-start: 20-0 at 43’

Park City lengthened their lead when hooker Blake Burdette
banged and bulled his way over and through a number of would-be stoppers en
route to a try from halfway; conversion by Lepolo and PCH had the bonus point
and a 27-point advantage coming up on the hour mark.

A yellow card issued by Brewer for a high hit reduced Park
City’s complement to 14-men in the 71st minute. Boulder were sharp
to exploit that benefit and were able to ground a brace of trys through
openside flanker Tucker Brock and fullback Jake Shomer; each were converted by
scrumhalf, Demian Mallo-Smith, for a 27-14 result to Haggis at Brewer’s last blast.